ical millionaire who fathered the project might do worse than
buy up this village for the experiment.

In the model dairy farm of Broek, through which visitors file during
the time allowed by the steam-boat's captain, things happen as they
should: the cows' tails are tied to the roof, and all is spick and
span. The author of _Through Noord-Holland_ tells us that among the
dairy's illustrious visitors was an Italian duchess from Livorno
who ordered cheese for herself, for the Princess Borghese and for
the Duke of Ceri. Everything in the farm, he adds, "is glimmering
and glittering".

One of the phenomena of Broek is thus explained by the same ingenious
author: "By beholding the dark-tinted columns attentively one sees
something dull here and there. In the year 1825, when the great flood
inundated whole Broek, men as well as cattle flied into the church,
which lies so much higher and remained quite free of water. By the
exhalations of the cows, the cow-damp, has the wood been blemished and
made dull at many places, chamois nor polish could help, the dullness
remained." The church has beauties to set against the phenomenon of
cow-damp, and among them a very elaborate carved pulpit in various
preclious woods, and some fine lamps.

Ireland tells us that the front doors of many of Broek's houses
are opened only twice in their owners' lives--when they marry and
when they die. For the rest the back door must serve. The custom is
not confined to Broek, but is found all over North Holland. These
ceremonial front doors are often very ornate. It was also at Broek
that Ireland picked up his information as to the best means of winning
the Dutch heart. "Laughable as it may seem, a safe expedient to insure
the affections of the lower class of these lasses, is to arm yourself
well with gingerbread. The first question the lover is asked after
knocking at the door, when the parents are supposed to be in bed,
is, 'Have you any gingerbread?' If he replies in the affirmative, he
finds little difficulty in gaining admission. A second visit ensures
his success, and the lady yields."

I can add a little to this. When a young man thinks of courting he
first speaks to the parents, and if they are willing to encourage
him he is asked to spend the evening with their daughter. They then
discreetly retire to bed and leave the world to him. Under his arm is
a large cake, not necessarily of gingerbread, and this he deposits on
the table, with or w